With the holidays coming up, it’s time to start planning for how to reheat and store honey-baked ham.
Our tips are good for all kinds of ham, but because of the high sugar content in honey-baked ham, you may want to refrigerate this kind of ham sooner and keep it in the freezer if you have a lot left over.
Ham is cured and preserved so it has been prepared to last a lot longer than uncured meats, but it can still dry out, go bad, or not taste as fresh.
We offer tips for not overcooking your honey-baked ham, because reheating in the microwave can go wrong.
Remember that cooking time in the microwave usually takes less time than you think, and always start out with 15 seconds for each side of a slice to help you not overcook it.
If you can reheat and store honey-baked ham properly, you can enjoy the same ham for several more meals.
You deserve good food, so it’s best to store and reheat your leftover ham with care.
Properly storing your honey-baked ham beforehand is the most essential element in your reheating journey.
If you let your ham sit at room temperature for more than two hours, it shortens its shelf life considerably.
Even though ham is cured (and thus full of preservatives) it can still go bad.
Honey-baked ham has a higher sugar content than many other hams so that sugar can cause problems if it sits out too long.
Honey-baked ham will last up to five days in the refrigerator or up to six weeks in the freezer.
Here are the simple steps on how to store honey-baked ham in the fridge:
- Wrap the honey-baked ham in plastic wrap, foil or place it in an airtight container or bag.
- If you’re using an airtight bag and plastic wrap, squeeze as much air out as you can, making sure the seal is complete.
- Label the bag or container to track the date.
- Store it in the fridge for up to five days.
Tip #1: Be sure to wrap the meat tightly with plastic wrap or foil to prevent it from drying out. Then store it in the coldest section of the refrigerator.
Tip #2: If you can, avoid slicing the ham before refrigeration because this will result in dryness and moisture loss.
Tip #3: It’s best stored in the fridge at 40°F or less.
How to store honey-baked ham in the freezer
To enjoy your honey-baked ham after a few weeks, you must consider storing it in the freezer. Here’s how to do it:
- Wrap the ham in aluminum foil or a freezer bag.
- Next, place it in an airtight container or a freezer bag to avoid freezer burn. Make sure to cover and seal it tightly.
- Label the bag or container to track the date.
- Store it in the freezer for up to six weeks.
Tip #1: Before it can be served, the frozen honey-baked ham should be thawed in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours.
Tip #2: Ensure to eat meat within two days after thawing.
Ways to reheat honey-baked ham
Honey-baked ham is indeed a winner for its juiciness, heartiness, and caramelized sugar coating.
Keep in mind that they’re already fully cooked and ready to eat, but if you prefer a warm ham, be sure to heat it up the right way.
Heating up honey-baked ham is a bit crucial but always remember your ultimate goal—avoiding the ham from drying out or getting chewy.
Furthermore, there are three ways in which you can reheat honey-baked ham: in an oven, on a stovetop, and in a microwave.
How to warm honey-baked ham in the oven
1. Preheat the oven to 275 to 300°F.
2. Line the baking plate with aluminum foil. This will help the ham moist.
3. Wrap your ham tightly with an aluminum foil or its original foil wrapper.
4. Add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the rimmed baking plate. This will prevent the meat from drying out.
5. Heat your ham. Note: For every pound of ham, you need to warm them up for about 10 minutes.
6. Remove them from the oven and serve.
How to warm up honey-baked ham on a stovetop
1. Heat a skillet on the stovetop and set it to low heat.
2. Add a teaspoon of oil or butter.
3. Place a slice in a skillet (or several but in a single layer) and heat on each side until warm. Don’t overcook!
4. Once heated through without overcooking, remove and serve.
Tip #1: Adding oil to your pan is optional, especially if you notice that your honey-baked hamhas a lot of fat.
Tip #2: Don’t let the ham stay in the skillet for too long. Remember, hams are already cooked.
How to reheat honey-baked ham in a microwave
1. Place a slice in a microwave-safe dish.
2. Place a glass of water beside the meat to give enough moisture.
3. Cover with another plate or a microwave-safe lid.
3. Heat it at 50% power for approximately 15 seconds.
4. Turn and heat the meat again for 15 seconds.
There’s a big chance that your honey-baked ham doesn’t heat evenly in the microwave.
If you’re in doubt whether the meat is thoroughly heated, give it a nice poke or do a taste test.
Quick tip: Use only the microwave method if you don’t have any other reheating options.
How long can honey-baked ham stay in the refrigerator before heating it up?
As mentioned, honey-baked ham can be stored in the fridge for up to five days while it’s safe to consume the ham within six weeks when properly kept in the freezer.
Tips on storing honey-baked ham
Here are some essential things you need to know when storing honey-baked ham:
- Be sure to wrap the meat tightly with plastic wrap or foil to prevent them from drying out.
- Store the ham in the coldest section of the refrigerator.
- Slicing the ham and wrapping the slices in small portions will allow you to use only what you need, but this tends to dry out the ham.
- Ensure to store the meat in the fridge at 40°F or less.
- If it’s ready to be served, frozen honey-baked ham should be thawed in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours.
- Ensure to eat meat within the two days after thawing.
Tips on how to tell if honey-baked ham has gone bad
Like any other meat, honey-baked ham also has a risk of spoilage, especially when you fail to refrigerate or freeze the food within a few hours after it’s been cooked.
Here are some tips on how to tell if your honey-baked ham has gone bad:
- Bad honey-baked ham smells funky or gives off a sulfur-type odor.
- Rotten ham features gray, brown, black, or green color.
- If you see your ham covered with mold, throw it right away as this is a sign that they’re already bad.
- Another common trait of bad ham is slimy flesh.
The bottom line
Do you have any secrets for extending the shelf life of your cooked honey-baked ham?
We have tried a few ways to reheat and store honey-baked ham, but we find that we eat it before too much time passes.
A honey-baked ham that hasn’t been opened yet can last until the good-by date shown on the label, and you can usually trust it.
Once the package has been opened to the air is when freshness starts to become compromised.
How to Reheat Honey-Baked Ham in the Oven
Here are some tips for how to reheat and store honey-baked ham.
Ingredients
- Stored honey-baked ham
- Aluminum foil
- Water
- Baking dish
- Oven
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275 to 300°F.
- Line the baking plate with aluminum foil. This will help keep the ham moist.
- Wrap your ham tightly with aluminum foil or its original foil wrapper.
- Add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the rimmed baking plate. This will prevent the meat from drying out.
- Heat your ham. Note: For every pound of ham, you need to warm a whole ham up for about 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve.